By Ashley Johnson/tr news editor

TR Campus’ online magazine TCC Writes is giving students an outlet to inspire others and express themselves.

Produced by the TR writing and learning center, the publication will be available next week  by logging on to http://issuu.com and typing “tccwrites09” into the search bar.

The idea to start a publication came from coordinator Steven LeMons, who said he wanted to start something that would allow students to embrace the art of writing.

“TCC Writes is a showcase and a piece dedicated to getting students involved in writing so that they see their writing and develop a love for writing,” he said.

Instructional associate Shawn Stewart said students can submit pieces for next fall’s edition throughout the spring and summer, he said.

LeMons said the publication started in 2009 as a newsletter that gave English students writing tips, and then he got the idea that students should put their own writing into the newsletters.

“We see a lot of student papers that come through here, and some are extremely compelling stories about experiences, success and things students have encountered just coming to TCC,” he said.

The center staff collaborated with some English instructors to get students to submit their essays into the newsletter.  What started out as three or four student articles in the newsletter quickly grew to all student articles and in what is now TCC Writes, he said.

“Many students write, and they don’t realize how well they do write,” he said.

“Many of them have something to say. They have a story.”

Always told she could never do anything, TR student Lorraine Hutson submitted a short autobiography to the magazine and said seeing her work made her feel honored.

“It gave me a chance to be transparent,” she said. “I think the magazine shares a lot about other individuals at TR Campus that we would never have an opportunity to actually meet, and that’s great.”

When students agree to publish their work in the magazine, they give it to the writing center in a Microsoft Word document, LeMons said. Later, when the magazine is published, students see the final results and realize they are capable of writing.

“A lot of people did not think they could write, but when they saw their writing for the first time ever with graphics and artwork, you could see in their faces that it brought them a lot of joy,” he said. “And that inspires them to continue.”

Writing and learning center instructional associates Samantha Windschitl and Stewart are co-editors and also contribute their own writings to the magazine, LeMons said. Students get a chance to see that the people helping them in the learning center are also writers and know what they’re doing.

The fall issue of TCC Writes was not published due to the relocation of the writing and learning center, LeMons said, but the upcoming spring issue will have photography and student artwork. The magazine is published electronically twice a year, in the fall and the spring. The English department encourages students to submit their works throughout the year and students can submit their writings through the dedicated email address. Many students can find out how to submit after attending an orientation at the writing and learning center, he said.

After hearing about the magazine through an orientation at the center, TR student and aspiring writer Terreyon Desso said the magazine was a perfect opportunity to show his work.

“I’ve submitted four pieces of writing, some poems and excerpts of my own book,” he said. “A lot of people have talents that they never pursue because of lack of confidence. To know that [other students] submitted their works for publication is encouraging to students.”

The magazine also helps students build a résumé for scholarships because they receive a hard copy of their final work, LeMons said.

“Something we all want is student success, and when students see their work, that encourages them to continue doing it,” he said.